For those of us who are spending some of our third age at Lakeside, learning new customs and traditions are an important part of our adventure. The month of May gives us plenty of opportunities to learn—after all there are seven holidays this month—most in just in the first two weeks of the month.
During these celebrations, there will be a wide range of activities—including everything from pre-dawn serenades special Masses and school programs to fireworks, parades, gifts and the decorating of area crosses and altars with colorful spring flowers and streamers.
We have the opportunity to honor the country’s workers, builders, farmers, and mothers; plus, teachers are honored by their schools and students and then the students are feted by their teachers -- all during the month of May.
We’ll even have some special blogs honoring some of these days – Come back on May 3 for our view of how the construction workers came to celebrate on the day of the holy cross.
Here is a bit of advance warning about the scheduling of government offices, schools and businesses – when they will close and when they’ll remain open during this month of holidays.
- May 1 – Labor Day closings will include schools, government offices, some small businesses. All employees are entitled to the day off with pay.
- May 3 – Day of the Holy Cross and Day of the Construction workers. On their day, many of the construction workers and their suppliers (paint stores, hardware stores, plumbing supply stores) take some or all of the day off work. Expect businesses in the village of Santa Cruz de Soledad to close, this is the culmination of their annual fiesta.
- May 5 – Cinco de Mayo doesn't affect businesses here.
- May 10 – Mexican Mother's Day doesn't close most businesses, but many women need to take off some of the day to attend special school programs or to be taken out for lunch.
- May 15 – The Day of the Teachers
- May 15 – Feast Day of San Isidro, the patron saint of farmers
- May 23 – The Day of the Students.
(Left:) Bands will take to the streets early on May 3, roaming through Lakeside villages to play at the homes of construction workers and at the workers uncompleted building sites. (Right:) Construction workers pile into a truck with the crosses they will erect on the top of each of their unfinished projects.
Cinco de Mayo
While we've listed Cinco de Mayo in the above list of holidays, it is not celebrated in this area of Mexico. Students of Mexican history will remember that on May 5, 1862, a war-weary Mexican army won a valiant battle against the French Army in the city of Puebla. There are plenty of celebrations in the US and Canada where it is assumed that May 5 is Mexico's Day of Independence, not just the anniversary of one battle out of decades of wars and battles.
Here’s the short version: In 1861, years of fighting the United States and a lengthy civil war had left Mexico bankrupt with large debts owed to England, Spain and France. When President Benito Juarez suspended payment of the loans for two years, all three countries invaded Mexico, intent on collecting however and whatever they could. By 1862, Spain and England had withdrawn, but Napoleon III continued his war in Mexico. On May 5, 1862, the small, worn and untrained Mexican army defeated the stronger and more modern French troops at Puebla. This was only a temporary victory for Mexico, because a year later, France was victorious and made Maximillian Emperor of Mexico for a short time. The Battle of Puebla was a moral victory that encouraged and united the people of Mexico.
Mother’s Day
May 10 is always Mother's Day (Dia de la Madre) in Mexico. While Gringo moms are often awakened with ominous sounds and smells emanating from their kitchens, many Mexican moms are awakened sometime between 2 a.m. and dawn by the musicians hired by the family to serenade them. Trios, bands and mariachis wander Lakeside streets by the dozens, playing first at this house and then at that, always starting the new serenade with the traditional song for all happy days, "Las Mañanitas." While not an official paid holiday, many businesses close and maids who are mothers often have the day off to attend the program at school.
Teachers and Students Days
The Dia del Maestro on May 15 is set aside for students to honor Mexico's teachers. Special gifts, programs and songs honor the teachers, and some schools close at mid-day; others are closed all day. A week later the tables turn and the teachers honor the students. There’s often refreshments, dancing, programs, little gifts, and parties to mark the day. Children seem to be double dipping this time of year…Children’s Day on April 30 is another opportunity to dote on the nation’s kids – enough so to inspire stores to gird up and prepare huge displays of toys and gifts – it looks a good deal like Christmas!
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